Reviews 10 years of library and information developments in East, Central, and Southern Africa. Topics include school libraries; public libraries and rural information services; academic libraries; education and training; and professional library and information associations. (AEF)

Discusses the decline of African libraries and concludes that African libraries must find their own role within an African reality. Discussion covers failed internationally funded attempts to stem the decline, including establishment of national information policies and systems; donation of books and journals; staff training; development of rural…

Reviews the problems of implementing information technology in developing countries and cites examples from African projects. The use of CD-ROM for access to information is examined, and experiences at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia in introducing CD-ROM search services are described. (Contains five references.)…

Describes the library orientation programs given to first-year students at Chancellor College in the University of Malawi (Africa). Topics include school libraries; orientation objectives; program organization and content; staffing; library teaching aids; reasons for success; and problems. (AEF)

Describes the establishment and development of the Standing Conference of Eastern, Central, and Southern African Librarians (SCECSAL) and assesses its effectiveness, particularly in terms of the implementation of conference resolutions by member library associations. The biennial conferences and published proceedings are discussed and suggestions…

Highlights trends in educational programs for library, archival, and information services in Anglophone West Africa since the recommendations of the Seminar on Public Library Development in Africa, held in Ibadan in 1953. Both professional and paraprofessional education are discussed, and needed resources are identified. (CLB)

Discusses the need for a regional information network in southern Africa to provide policy makers with access to needed information and reduce dependence on foreign advisers. The progress of the Southern Africa Documentation and Information System is described, and future trends and possible difficulties are identified. (CLB)

Discusses the need to market information services in Africa and examines some of the obstacles to the use of library and information services. Highlights include technological changes; management issues, including a negative image of librarians; marketing information to a population with low use of libraries; the role of governments; and culture…

Discussion of the information needs of rural people in developing countries focuses on rural community resource centers in Africa. Topics addressed include centers run by the local community versus those run by a public library system; rural resource centers in Sierra Leone; community information centers in Asia; information transfer; and training…